Stretcher.



I. C. GWIN.

STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. I916.

LQUKbU. Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

1 7 mwms PETERS 3.. PNO m-umo unsun mN, u. c.

FEE @Aflh IRA CURRY GWIN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,

Application filed March 22, 1916.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRA C. GwIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain useful Improvements in Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in stretchers, one object of the invention being the provision of a flexible stretcher that may be readily folded or collapsed to occupy a small space when not in use, and which may be quickly extended in emergency.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stretcher wherein the handles thereof are detachably mounted in a novel manner, so that they can be removed for the compact folding or collapsing of the stretcher.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a flexible stretcher, the main body of which is composed of a flexible strip of material, either single or plural ply, having connected transversely thereto a plurality of handle supporting flexible members.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the complete stretcher extended. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the stretcher folded.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the main supporting portion of the stretcher which is composed of flexible material and may be made in any number of plies as may be found expedient.

Connected by any desired manner, that is, by sewing or riveting, transversely of the strip 5, are the two pairs of strips 6, whose ends 7 extend beyondthe sides of the strip Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. i2, 191%.

Serial No. 85,863.

5 and are looped to form, eyes to receive the handles 8 which are the only rigid members of the present structure.- These handles 8 are cylindrical members which may be readily inserted in place in the loops when the stretcher is about to be used, or they may be readily removed therefrom to permit the stretcher to be collapsed both transversely and longitudinally, so that the same will occupy a small space when not in use.

When the handles 8 are inserted in the loops 7, the same can be detachably fastened therein through the medium of eye members 9, which are fixed in the handles 8, and protrude through suitable openings in the loops exterio'rly thereof for the engagement of flexible retaining straps 10 in said eye members 9, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the straps being fastened at the point of connection with the strips 6 with the supporting portion 5 of the stretcher.

What I claim as new is A stretcher comprising an elongated body portion of flexible material and a pair of spaced strips extending transversely thereof and entirely thereacross at each end of the body portion and to which the body portion is secured, said strips being extended beyond the body portion at each side thereof and terminating in handle receiving eyes, rigid handles lying lengthwise of the body portion and extending between the strips of a pair and being engaged in said eyes and interengaging means between said eyes and the handles for preventing endwise movement of the handles with relation to the eyes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

IRA CURRY GWIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D G. 

